Packers Vs Browns – 3 Plays That Make You Go Hmmm

After re-watching the Packers game, here are three plays that made me go hmmm, for various reasons.

Switching Roles

We’re all used to Allen Lazard blocking downfield for his fellow receivers or running backs. Here he gets a chance to carry the ball and of all things, Aaron Jones is tasked with getting downfield and blocking for Lazard. The Packers make it look like a run to their left. Lazard motions to the left side. Just before the snap, Deguara slides to his left. Rodgers fakes a handoff to Jones who starts out to his left. Most of the Cleveland defense is fooled except for their left DE who is left unblocked for Deguara to pick up. He reads the play well but Deguara is able to get just enough of him to let Lazard get around him. As Lazard heads downfield, look who has made it all the way across the field and is out there lead blocking for him? Jones does a fine job, tying up the defender the whole way, allowing Lazard to pick up the first down. The best part of this clip is at the end, when Lazard gives Jones a “thanks bud” tap on the helmet as he returns to the sideline.

Confusion and Recovery

On the broadcast, Troy Aikman says, “Rasul Douglas plays this awfully well – he has his back turned to the sideline and that’s when Mayfield thinks he can fit it in there…”  Well Troy, he has his back to the sideline because he followed the outside receiver inside, as did Chandon Sullivan. And that is where we have a problem. We’ve seen teams do this to the Packers before, and often in the end zone with disastrous results. Staying assignment sure when receivers are crisscrossing is a problem the Packers need to resolve, as teams will continue to test them until they show they can handle it. Now Rasul does eventually realize what has happened and heads over to Landry. Luckily, Mayfield is off-balance and doesn’t get much on the throw and it falls beautifully into Douglas’ arms. A bit of good fortune that Sullivan and Douglas can laugh about on the bench afterwards before trying to figure out who should have done what.

Don’t Blame Braden

I’ve heard a bunch of people complaining about why they would run a toss play to Braden’s side when he just got in the game as a practice squad elevation emergency tackle. Well folks, Braden actually does a great job on this play. He’s impeded twice, once by EQ and then by the defender Davante whiffs on, and still is able to get out there and crushes the defensive back. The play doesn’t work because the Browns were not fooled and get some great pursuit down the LOS. Had Braden not been slowed down twice, perhaps Jones doesn’t have to slow down and gets to teh sideline to pick up the needed yard and a half. Listening to Lafleur, Rodgers and Adams after the game, they all lamented the fact that they got too conservative on this possession by running. WIth a nine point lead and seven minutes left in the game, I didn’t mind the runs at all. My complaint? When Jones gets you seven yards on first down, and putting together a clock killing drive is a logical goal, why isn’t Dillon brought in with two chances to get three yards? Seems like a no-brainer to me.